Animated sign



ANIMATED SIGN. lAPPLICAHON F|LED'SEPT.10, 1920.

2 SHEETS-j-SHEET i.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. PYPER, OF' SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, ASSIGNOR TO PYIER ANIMATEDSIGN COMPANY, 0F SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, A CORPORATION OF UTAH.

ANIMATED SIGN.

Application led September 10, 1920.

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE R. PYPER, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of Salt Lake City, in thecounty of Salt Lake and State of Utah, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Animated Signs, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact specification.

My invention is concerned with animated signs, and is designed moreparticularly to produce a sign in which a long border can be given theappearance of animation without the use of an excessive number of lightsor the necessity of constantly switching them on and off which existsunder the present practice.

To this end it consists of a screen plate having the border or portionto be animated (which is outlined in perforations or translucentportions) of a character and design such that an endless belt or chaincan be made to traverse adjacent it and carry preferably a plurality ofshutters, which passing successively between the perforations ortranslucent portions and the light, or lights, throw preferably a seriesof continuously moving shadows over said border or portion, and thusproduce the appearance of animation that has heretofore been securedonly by switching on and off a number of lights corresponding generallyto the number of the perforatiens or translucent portions.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto two sheets of drawings inwhich the same reference characters are used to designate identicalparts in all the figures of which- Figure 1. is a vertical section onthe line i-iofrige,

Figs. 2 and 3 are vertical sections on the lines 2-2 and 3--3respectively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4c is a detail on an enlarged scale illustrating one of theshutters and its mounting; and

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the sign on a smaller scale.

In carrying out my invention, I preferably employ a sheet metal casing10, which is of any desired size and shape to accommodate the sign andthe hereinafter described mechanism. For convenience of illustration, Ihave shown in Fig. 5 the front screen plate 11, which is preferablycomposed of sheet metal, as opaque throughout except for the line ofperforations 12 forming a border, the sign proper being paintedSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 21, 1921.

Serial No. 409,392.

or otherwise depicted on the central portion of t-he plate 11, which isilluminated in any desired manner as from the front. While I might leavethe iperforations 12 entirely open, I preferably secure on the rear ofthe pla-te 12 over the perforations a strip 13, of some translucentmaterial, such as a thin colored paper, which does not substantially cutoff the light, but diffuses it somewhat and produces a more pleasingeffect. Of course it will be understood that the strip 13 can be made ofany desired color, or colors, as the taste of the designer may select.

The endless member preferably takes the form of a sprocket chain 14,which is mounted upon the four sprocket wheels 15 shown, one at eachcorner, which are journaled on suitable bearings 16 projecting inwardlyfrom the rear of the front plate l1 by which they may be supported. Thesprocket wheel 15a' in one corner instead of being mounted on thecustomary stud shaft 16l is pinned on the short shaft 17 which has oneend journaled in the bearing 18 secured to the rear of the plate 11 inthe same relative position as the stud shaft 16, and this shaft 17 isdetachably connectedv to the shaft 19 journaled in the bearing 20secured on the rear of the reflector casing 21, which I preferablyemploy, and which will ordinarily be of a pyramidal shape correspondingin its base to the design of the front plate 11 and in its height to thedepth of the casing 10. Mounted in the apex of the pyramid is the socket22 for the incandescent lamp 23 placed in the reflector and suppliedwith current from any suitable source, as indicated in'Fig. 1.y

Secured at suitable intervals on the chain 14 is a series of shutters24.-, preferably made of sheet metal, and mounted so as to travel closeto the perforations 12. 'To rotate the shaft 19, and to consequentlykeep the chain 14. moving at any desired speed, I preferably employ theelectric motor 25 mounted in the bottom of the casing, and connected bysuitable reducing gearing to the shaft 19, this gearing preferablyconsistingof a belt 26 connecting a pulley 27 on the armature shaft ofthe motor with a large pulley wheel 28 having the small pulley wheel 29secured on its hub, the wheel 28 being journaled in the bearing 30, asshown in Fig. 2. A belt 31 connects the small ypulley 29 with the largepulley 32 secured on the outer end of the Shania Ittisdesneameashuieughtthe circuit 23 on and olf, a flasher cylinder 33 with the desiredconductors thereon is secured on the hub of the wheel 32 and is providedwith a couple of contacts 34 which are located in 35 which furnishes thelamp 23 with current.

The operation et the foregoing apparatus will be readily understood, asthe continued rotation of the motor causes a seriesV oil shadows totraverse the border formed by the pertorations 12 and produce thedesired effect of animation. It the sign is to be illuminated :trom theinterior, it will be understood that a suitable casing with lightsinside of it will be placed within the space between the reflector 21and the screen plate l1.

While I have shown and described my in vention as embodied in the torniwhich I at presentV consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, itwill be understood that it is capable of modifications, and that I donot desire to be limited in the interpretation ot the following claims,except as may be necessitated by the state `ot the prior art.

lVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the'United States is:

l. In an animated sign, the combination with a generally opaque platehaving a por tion to be animated outlined by a series oi" consecutiveportions adapted to transmit light, ot an endless member movableadjacent said consecutive portions and in a path correspondingto theoutline termed Vpath corresponding to the outline a source otillumination back ot the screen plate, a shutter carried bythe endlessmember between the source Vot illumination and the consecutive portionstor the purpose described, and means for moving said endless member.

2. In an animated sign,the combination with a generally opaque platehaving a portion to be animated outlined by a series ot consecutiveportions adapted to transmit light, oi an endless member movable adjacent said consecutive portions and Iin a formed by them, a source ofillumination back ot the screen plate, a plurality of shutters carriedby the endless member between the source ot' illumination and theconsecutive portions for the purpose described, and means for movingsaid endless member.

3. In an animated sign, the combination with a generally opaque screenplate having the portion to be animated outlined by a series ofconsecutive portions adapted to transmit light, 0I" a chain movableadjacent said consecutive portions and in a path corresponding to theoutline termed by them, a source of illumination back of the screenplate, a shutter carried by the chain travelby them,

ieasee ing between the source of illumination and the consecutiveportions 'lor the purpose described, sprocket wheels on which said chainis mounted, and means for rotating Vone of sprocket wheels.

il. In an animated sign, the combination with a rectangular casinghaving a generally opaque screen plate in the front thereot having aborder to be animated outlined by a series otoonsecutive portionsadapted to'transmit light, a sprocket wheel mounted on the interiorot1thev casing at each corner, a sprocket chain mounted on said sprocketwheels and movable adjacent said border in a path corresponding to theoutline formed by said portions, a centrally located source otillumination baclr oi' the screen plate, a shutter carried by the chainbetween the source of illumination and the consecutiife portions forVthe purpose described, and means for rotating one oi' said sprocketwheels.

5. In an animated sign, the combination with a generally opaque platehaving portion to be animated outlined by a series ol'. consecutiveportions adapted to transmit. light, ot an endless member movableadjacent said consecutive portions and in a path corresponding to theoutline formed by them, a source ot illumination back of the screenplate, a shutter carried by the endless member between the source otillumination and the consecutive portions for the purpose described, aseries ot wheels on which the endless member is supported, an electricmotor, and reducing gearing from said electric motor to one ot thewheels.

6. In an animated sign, the combination with a generally opaque screenplate having a portion to be animated outlined by a series ofconsecutive portions adapted t transmit light, of an endless membermovable adjacent said consecutive portions and in a path correspondingto the outline termed by them, a source of illumination back o'.' thescreen plate, a shutter carried by the endless member between the sourceot illumination and the consecutive portions tor the purpose described,a series ot wheels on which theendless member is mounted, an electricmotor, reducing gearing between said motor and one oi: the wheels, and aflasher mounted concentrically with the shaft ot the wheel connectedwith the reducing gearing.

In witness whereof; I" have hereunto set my hand and atlixed my seal,this Qtth day of August, A.. I). 1920.

f GEORGE Il. PYPIGR. [n s l lllitnesses z K. W. Ynarns, Il, EVi'rALLAcE,

